Proof of Laden’s role in J&K

LOREN (Poonch), Nov 23 (PTI) — The security forces have found evidence of international terrorist Osama bin Laden aiding and abetting terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir with the recovery of his photographs from an Afghan mercenary, Nasir Khan recently, a top Army official today said.

In an encounter with the 22 Punjab Regiment at Katta in Loren in Poonch district, Nasir Khan, divisional commander of a splinter group of the Hizbul Mujahideen, and five of his accomplices had been killed by the security forces.

Coded messages, Rs 50,000 worth of traveller cheques drawn from the Muslim Commercial Bank of Karachi and sophisticated weapons like assault rifles with silencers were recovered from the site.

Since the arrival of 22 Punjab Regiment in Mandi-Loren Sector, so far 19 militants had been killed, including six hardcore Afghan mercenaries, said Col B.P. Singh, Commanding Officer.

The regiment had rescued a newly married girl from the clutches of Afghan terrorist Abu Hamza at Kulian in Loren in October, he said, adding that Hamza’s associates were also killed in the encounter.

Major-Gen V.S. Yadav said criminals and foreign mercenaries jailed in Pakistan, including Afghans, Sudanese and nationals from Arab countries, were being released from prison and trained by the Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) in a bid to foment trouble in Jammu and Kashmir.

The General Officer commanding 25 Infantry Division told visiting newspersons here that the attempts by Pakistan to infiltrate trained terrorists had led to a heavy exchange of fire along the 780 km-long line of control (LoC).

Recently the security forces had gunned down 68 foreign nationals, including Sudanese, Afghans, Iraqis and other Arab nationals in encounters along the LoC and recovered Rs 18 lakh in cash from them, besides sophisticated weapons, the General said.

According to information available with the security forces, 70-80 per cent of the mercenaries operating in the Poonch-Rajouri Sector were foreign nationals and were spread out in an area of about 500 sq. km.

Maintaining that firing along the LoC had increased four-fold in recent months, General Yadav said the militants had now begun using 81 mm mortars which were heavy calibre weapons.

In a new trend, militants had been found roaming in the garb of security personnel, wearing uniform and sporting Indian Army badges to conceal their identity, the General added.

Five Pak militants shot

SRINAGAR, Nov 23 (PTI) — Ten persons including a police officer and five Pakistani militants, were killed in trouble-torn Jammu and Kashmir since last evening, official sources said today.

Four foreign mercenaries, all residents of Pakistan, were killed in a brief encounter with the Army at a village in Baramula district of North Kashmir today, the sources said.

Following a tip off, Army troops cordoned the village, 8 km from Baramula, in the wee hours today.

In the ensuing encounter four mercenaries were killed while trying to escape. Arms and ammunition was recovered from the encounter site.

Two militants were killed in Mughalmara-Chandimar of Poonch district in Jammu region yesterday. Alert jawans shot dead a militant who was about to throw a grenade on a security party at Kot Bapnote area of Rajouri district yesterday.

Security forces also shot dead a Pakistani militant in Mullan area of Udhampur district and seized an assault rifle from him. One militant was killed at Thathri in Doda district yesterday.

The bullet-riddled body of a special police officer (SPO) was recovered from Kulgar-Achabal in Anantnag district of South Kashmir late last night. He was abducted and later killed by militants, the sources said.

A civilian sustained bullet injuries in an exchange of fire between militants and security personnel at Sumbal in Baramula district.

While the militants managed to escape, the security forces recovered an assault rifle, eight magazines with 250 rounds, a hand grenade and a wireless set during the subsequent search of the area.

Militants also shot at and critically wounded a person inside his house in the same district late last night.

Two civilians were injured when militants tried to blow off a security picket.

Three persons, who were kidnapped by militants on Saturday, returned home today.

A militant surrendered before the police at Kalakote in Rajouri district last night.

Saxena wants Red Cross to help
terrorist victims
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Nov 23 — The J & K Governor, Mr G.C. Saxena, has emphasised the need for evolving a multi pronged strategy to combat inevitable disasters natural or man-made adding that the man-made disaster has surfaced in the form of "terrorism in the name of religion, caste and ethnicity which has become a matter of grave concern in many parts of the world including our own country.

Inaugurating a National Workshop on 'Disaster Preparedness' organised by the Red Cross Society of India in collaboration with International Committee of Red Cross and Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies at Jammu today, the Governor said that natural calamities are evidently inevitable and over the years, the such disasters had indeed taken a very heavy toll of precious human lives besides causing enormous damage to infrastructure and loss of public and private property. Regrettably, however, we do not seem to have leant lessons well enough from tragedies like Latur, Surat, Kandla and the coastal tracks in Andhra Pradesh.

Giving an account of Chernobyl Nuclear Plant disaster, Bhopal Gas tragedy, Charkhi Dadri air collusion and countless other incidents, the Governor said that man had himself become the perpetrators of those forms of disaster leaving behind the natural disasters like earthquake, floods cyclones, droughts, volcanic eruptions, landslides etc which are beyond the reach of the control of man.

Mr Saxena said that in the present day world, political strife, economic scarcities, acute social inequities, infrastructural inadequacies and communal and ethnic tensions and unrest were some of the other significant components of contemporary existence which had have an adverse bearing on the quality of life and has posed innumerable problems with disaster like overtones.

While dwelling upon the almost decade-long proxy war and externally sponsored terrorist violence in the State the Governor said the situation was now qualitatively improved. Nevertheless, large number of members of our society would continue to bear the emotional social and economic scars of the tragedy for a long time. He said it was imperative that we devoted ourselves more to the cause of mitigating the sufferings of those who had become victims of the man-made disaster.

The Governor said that history bore ample testimony to the fact that human commitment and endeavours had not remained continued to frontiers of religion or region or even national boundaries. In times when large section of people are in distress or despair, compassionate and caring organisations and individuals have to come to the aid of the needy and the afflicted. He said that in this backdrop Red Cross should play a greater role in giving comfort and relief to the victims of transborder terrorism, as also victims of shelling and firing from across the borders.

Mr Saxena said the starting point of any exercise to handle a potential threat was the understanding of the threat itself. A major effort is required to make the people aware of potential disaster as this would lead to a higher level of timely preparedness. Preventive measures would also require to be put in place like appropriate advance warning systems and evacuation procedure. The Governor said that any disasters management should be viewed with identification, anticipation, prevention, preparation and quick response.

The Governor, while highlighting and activities of Red Cross activities in J&K said it has remained active over the years in providing relief measures to the victims. He also lauded the role of Army paramilitary forces and police in helping with their trained manpower and special equipment during emergencies connected with natural calamities and other disaster.

Earlier, the Secretary, General-Indian Red Cross Society, Dr Manoj Mathur said that Kashmir had a rich cultural heritage and was the crown of India. He said that the state had variant topography and was in necessity of disaster control in many circumstances. He said that besides militancy, floods, droughts, landslides and wild fire were some of the disasters which were to be faced by the people of the State.

On the occasion the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Mr B.S. Jamwal, who is also the Chairman of Regional Red Cross Society gave a brief resume of the development activities made by the Red Cross in the region. The District Development Commissioner, Jammu, Mr P.K. Tripathi who is Chairman of the District Red Cross Society presented a welcome address.

Among others, MR Jean Lue Biondel and Mr Gert Venghaus from International Federation Red Cross also read their papers on Community Based Disaster Management Planning and Development.